GOAL; Madrid Routs Galatasaray

By JACK BELL

Published: April 4, 2013

The Goal blog will provide updates and live analysis of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League matches: Málaga at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Galatasaray beginning at 2:45 p.m. Eastern. Check back here for live updates. (Note that videos here will not play outside the United States.)

Matchday 2 in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League yielded similar results to Tuesday’s games: An emphatic victory for one home team and a draw in the other game.

First-half goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema staked Real Madrid to a lead as the Spanish club went on to defeat Galatasaray of Turkey, 3-0, at Santiago Bernabéu stadium. In another Spanish city, host Málaga withstood Dortmund’s frantic attack and slew of golden scoring opportunities to end the match in a deadlock ahead of next week’s game in Germany.

Madrid, which is seeking its record 10th continental title, now seems poised to advance to the semifinals, but strange things have been known to happen at Galatasaray’s Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.

For its part, Málaga should feel fortunate for not making the trip to Germany down an away goal or two. The defending champions of the Bundesliga received strong performances from Kevin Grosskreutz, Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski … but no goals.

“We weren’t able to score but let’s see what we can do in the return leg next week,” Caballero said in an interview with Canal Plus TV of Spain. “It was my turn to participate tonight and let’s hope it’s all going to be worth something in a week’s time. We have a week to keep studying them and hopefully we can get a result over there.”

What is your take on the two matches Wednesday? Please leave your comments below.

The End, Now | On to Next Week’s Quarterfinal Second Legs

That’s it for our live coverage of Wednesday’s quarterfinal matches in the Champions League. Until next week.

Postgame | From My Colleague Andy Das

Wenger’s caterpillar would be the holy grail if managers swapped coats after matches the way players exchange shirts.

Sergio Ramos is shown a caution, which means he will miss the return match. Seconds later another card, this time for Marcelo.

88’ | Malaga Free Kick

Roque Santa Cruz taken down on right flank. Long pass across the top of the penalty area is smacked over the bar by Antunes from about 25 yards. Malaga eschewed the inswinger for a long, long shot in the waning moments.

84i | Yellow Card: Essien

Guess it wouldn’t be a game without Michael Essien getting awell-deserved yellow card for sending Amrabat to the ground. Still, little impact for Madrid.

Xabi Alonso’s free kick from about 40 yards on the left is directed by Higuain past Muslera with a glancing header. Galatasaray seems spent while Madrid is a step closer to the semifinals. Can the Turkish club rally at home next week? A huge (massive if you’re English!) challenge.

65’ | Real Madrid Sub

Benezema gives way to Higuain. (Sorry, missed that one for a few minutes.)

70’ | Dortmund Sub

Schieber replaces Reus for the German club.

4:10 P.M. | Neither Dortmund nor Malaga Will Yield

68’ | Malaga Sub

Saviola replaced by Portillo, a homegrown player.

65’ | Just Wide

Dortmund’s Götze breaks in on the right and send a shot along the ground out of the reach of Caballero and just wide of the far post. Seconds later Malaga’s Isco and then Toulalan pepper Weidenfeller with shots but can’t beat the German keeper.

57’ | Madrid Just Misses

Di Maria nearly makes it 3-0 for Madrid after taking a perfectly weighted pass from Xabi Alonso, but the Argentine can’t put it away using the outside of his foot.

Nice ball from Riera into the penalty area but Drogba is unable to get to it as Ramos slides it away. Can the Turkish club steal an away goal?

55’ | Madrid in Control

With Madrid pretty, at least for now, keep in mind that its manager, Jose Mourinho has never lost in seven previous quarterfinal matches. He has also taken two clubs — Porto and Inter — to Champions League titles. Another title would be a unique triple indeed.

47’ | Missed It By This Much

Crossing ball finds Dortmund’s Lewandowski unmarked about 8 yards from goal. But his right-footed shot slithers off his shoe and slices wide. Golden opportunity is wasted. A bad miss.

HT | Galatasaray Sub

Defender Zan replaces Sneijder as Galatasaray tries to keep the score at 2-0. The Dutch veteran had been virtually invisible in the first half.

Stat Break | Real Madrid Factoid

12 – The only time Madrid lost a CL match after leading by two goals at HT was exactly 12 years ago v Galatasaray (2-3 on 03/04/01). Omen.